Dental stick



Pee. 23, 1952 B. J. FRIEDLOB ETA], 2,623,003

DENTAL STICK Filed Sept. 28, 1949 IN VEN TORS B6 f'i' 11f. flied 10/9 and fled M 2 7 4645106 gag WM /W J Patented Dec. 23, 1952 DENTAL STICK Bert J. Friedlob and Fred M. Friedlob, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 28, 1949, Serial No. 118,356

The present invention relates to dentifrices and more particularly to a dentifrice usable to supplement the daily teeth brushing, using ordinary tooth paste or powder, and the periodic visits to the dentist when the teeth are thoroughly cleaned.

More particularly the invention relates to a dentifrice to be used about once a week to remove food and tobacco stains as well as to retard the accumulation of tartar on the teeth. By the periodic use of the dentifrice of this invention the day to day accumulation of tartar which is deposited on the surface of the teeth is removed, especially the front teeth where it is visible. Thus, by the use of the dentifrice of this invention the time between periodic visits to the dentist for a thorough teeth cleaning is extended.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a dentifrice in stick form whereby it may be readily applied by the individual, especially in removing stains, etc., from the front teeth and from dentures.

This invention also provides a dental cleaning compound especially useful in removing stains, etc., from the teeth. The compound includes a fine abrasive such as pumice which forms the major portion of the mixture, a chemical polishing agent, a water soluble binder, a softener, a small proportion of a flavoring extract, a, small proportion of antiseptic, and a suitable coloring agent.

Specifically, according to this invention, the dentifrice consists of the following percentages by weight:

75.1% pumice, fine powder 18.8% calcium carbonate 5.0% polyvinyl alcohol 1.0% glycerin U. S. P.

0.08% flavoring 0.01% chlorobutanol 0.01% coloring agent (ponceau red, eosin or basic fuchsin) The essential ingredients are the pumice, the calcium carbonate, the polyvinyl alcohol, and the glycerin. The above quantities of the various ingredients are mixed with water to form a paste which may be used as a dentifrice in that form. However, the paste is preferably molded into dental sticks as shown in the drawing.

In molding the dental sticks the paste is preferably extrusion molded into the form shown. The sticks may be dried by the application of heat during the molding process or they may be 2 Claims. (01. 167-93) removed from the molds and dried to drive on the water.

The shape and size of the sticks are not essential to the invention but they preferably have one end pointed for easy application to the teeth and are approximately four inches long and onequarter inch in diameter.

The pumice acts as an inert abrasive and is the major polishing ingredient, the calcium carbonate being alkaline and abrasive forms a chemical polisher, the polyvinyl alcohol forms a water soluble binder which automatically releases the abrading and polishing ingredients when the dentifrice is used and the glycerin keeps the stick soft for long periods whereby no injuries to the tooth or gums will result by using the dental stick of this invention.

The other ingredients are non-essential insofar as cleaning teeth is concerned. However, in

.using a dentifrice of this kind, an antiseptic is particularly useful and chlorobutanol has been found to be specially suited for use in the particular composition because it blends well with the other ingredients.

The coloring ingredient is non-essential but it is desirable to give the completed dental stick a pleasing and distinctive color. In practice it has been found that "ponceau red, eosin or "basic fuchsin blend well with the other ingredients to form pleasing and lasting color combinations.

An important feature of the invention is the use of polyvinyl alcohol as the binder. The use of that compound makes it possible to use a. higher percentage of the active abrading and polishing agents. By the use of polyvinyl alcohol as the binder it is possible to compound a dentifrice in which the active polishing ingredients exceed ninety percent of the entire mixture in which the active ingredients are readily released to perform their polishing action by the mere wetting of the dental stick.

The foregoing comes about by reason of the fact that polyvinyl alcohol is a plastic having excellent cohesive properties when mixed with finely granulated materials and is readily soluble in water so that the active ingredients are readily and progressively released from the dental stick by the application of moisture either by applying the stick to the teeth or by the preliminary moistening of the stick.

The use of glycerin in the formula of this invention is also important. Without the use of glycerin the dental stick would become hard and brittle and dangerous to use because of the large percentage of active materials present. However,

3 it has been found that a small quantity of glycerin blends well with the other ingredients and gives the stick a soft texture which is not unpleasant when applied to the teeth.

The use of chlorobutanol as a disinfectant, while not essential, also has its advantages when used with the specific ingredients above enumerated. During mixing it readily permeates throughout the entire mass so as to be distributed uniformly in the completed stick.

The particular coloring agent used is not essential or important but those used in the above formula have been found to be of superior effectiveness when used with the other ingredients.

We claim:

1. A non-brittle, molded, self sustaining dental stick comprising, approximately 90% by weight of active polishing ingredients including the chemically active polishing compound calcium carbonate, approximately 5% of the binder polyvinylalcohol, and glycerin.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 375,827 McClelland Jan. 3, 1888 1,819,004 Roessinger Aug. 18, 1931 1,969,874 Butterfield Aug. 14, 1934 10 2,111,272 Paulson Mar. 15, 1938 2,160,503 Hermann May 30, 1939 2,226,075 Rowe Dec. 24, 1940 2,341,262 Brun Feb. 8, 1944 15 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 345,778 Germany Dec. 15, 1921 670,527 France Aug. 19, 1929 OTHER REFERENCES U. Sl Dispensatory, 24th edition, Philadelphia, 1947, page 263. 

1. A NON-BRITTLE, MOLDED, SELF SUSTAINING DENTAL STICK COMPRISING, APPROXIMATELY 90% BY WEIGHT OF ACTIVE POLISHING INGREDIENTS INCLUDING THE CHEMICALLY ACTIVE POLISHING COMPOUND CALCIUM 